open november catch-all ( haru okumura + princess yona )

[frombetrayal]

Who: Haru Okumura (frombetrayal) & you! Princess Yona (cutefaced) & you, too.
What: A post-event catch-all for November. Personalized starters will be in the comments.
When: Anytime after the event.
Where: Basically anywhere, though mainly Wyver for now.
Warning(s): Nothing at the moment, but I'll add them as things come up. Mephisto and Jae-Ha are in the middle of some 18+ shenanigans in one thread but that's probably getting cut short.

haru;

one - searching for supplies;
[Haru's up in the Old City today, taking a look at the marketplace. She doesn't seem too perturbed by the state of the Old City itself; sure, it's... definitely got a sort of dangerous feel to it, but she's pretty capable of defending herself if need be.

The axe she's got strapped to her back is something she knows how to use, after all.

That being said, she's not really anticipating a fight - it's more of a precautionary measure. She's calm and polite with the merchants as she looks through their wares, though eventually, she has to stop and ask someone for directions-]

Um, excuse me. [You! Yes, you! Help a girl out.] You don't happen to know where there might be someone selling gardening tools, do you?

[Do they even garden here? Man, she doesn't know. There's plants every which way down in the jungle itself, but they don't really seem organized - it's a very wild feel.

Which has its own charm, of course, but...]

two - foraging for foliage;
[Midway through the month, Haru decides it's about time to get her butt in gear. She's more or less decided that she will be returning to Olympia eventually, but she doesn't want to forget the nice parts of Wyver, either...

So.

She's got a pack full of supplies and a simple sketchpad in hand. You might catch her throughout the city, taking sketches of the various plants that are growing there -

Or you might catch her looking at one or two of them, puzzled.]

Hmm... I wonder if there's some way of harvesting seeds from this?

[If she can, she'd like to grow some of these back in Olympia - though she's not sure they'll take to the climate there.

...eventually, of course, she'll wander to the Undergrowth. She has, at least, stopped to grab her axe, but now she's lingering at the entrance, checking over her supplies.]

Well, no time like the present...

[In she goes!]

three - many hands make light work;
[Haru's spent a decent amount of time in Wyver - but, toward the end of the month, she joins the volunteer efforts to help get Olympia back on its feet. It's only fair, after all - Olympia was kind enough to take them all in when they first arrived, and she can't in good conscience leave them to flounder now.

So. If you're on the road to Olympia at the same time as her, she raises a hand and calls out -]

Hello there!

[Safety in numbers, after all; maybe you can travel together!

On the other hand, if you encounter her once you're both back in Olympia, you can find her basically anywhere in the city - helping move supplies around, working on general cleanup, et cetera, et cetera. She's pretty strong for a girl her age.

Of course, everyone needs to take a break sometime, and she's no exception. Catch her while she's taking a breather and getting a bite to eat, and she might wave you over.]

Are you hungry? I have enough to share.

yona;

one - bad decision time;
[So. Uh.

Here's Yona. Here's Yona at Falmi's Ring, watching some of the fights with interest while clutching a few coins in one hand. Gambling probably is not the best habit for a princess to get into, but she's heard that if you get good at it, it can be a way of making money quickly. And since she doesn't have a steady job yet - she's mainly been doing odd job around Wyver for some coin - this seems as good an option as any.

For now, she's observing the fights. Her eyes are fixed on a slender man currently in the ring, ducking and weaving to avoid his much brawnier opponents' moves. He's quick on his feet and his strategy seems to be wearing his opponent down.]

Hmm... He's doing pretty well...

[Maybe she'll bet on him in the next fight.]

two - practice makes perfect;
[Thunk.

What's that sound? Well, that's the sound of Yona hurling small throwing knives (which she, uh, "borrowed" from Jae-Ha, sorry Jae-Ha) at a tree trunk. But it's better than the alternative! The sound means she's hitting her target and not, you know, missing and nearly throwing a sharp object at your face.]

Hah! I'm getting better at this.

[She's run out... looking proud of herself, she hurries over to pull the knives from the tree and heads back to the line she's drawn in the dirt for herself. Time to get back to work... Oh, hey, there's a person.]

Oh, sorry! Was I bothering you?

[Alternatively -

Thunk. Thunk.

...

Silence, and then-]

Oh, oops!

[Looks like she missed. Maybe you're an unfortunate passerby that is now going to have to dodge the knife? Maybe you got hit. Who knows.]

three - fangirl mode, activate;
[By now, Yona's a pretty common face at the stables, especially now that the week of the full moon has passed, the dragons are back where they're supposed to be, and they're not trying to... you know, eat them.

Today, she's hanging around and peering at them when she gets the chance.]

They're so beautiful...! I wish I could ride one.

[But, uh, she's broke. Alas.

Alternatively, if you catch her in the West, you may see her watching some of the dancers with interest.

...later in the night, you might catch her in a secluded part of town, trying to mimic the moves on her own. She's not quite ready to join in the dancing herself, but she would like to learn!

She's a little unsteady on her feet, though. It's a lot of twirling and jumping.

Heck, she might even stumble out and smack into you if you're not careful.]

Oh— I'm sorry!

wildcard;

[If none of the above works for you, just hit me with whatever! Alternatively, hit me up by PM or at hungriest and I'll be glad to write a personalized starter for you.]

Comments

[terrantrash]

_{[Don't look at him like that...]}

I don't want you to get your hands dirty. One of us being bloody is enough.

[cutefaced]

I'll wash my hands once we're finished.

[The fact that her hands might become bloody but she can just wash it off, as if it never happened, is why she should help do this for him. It's not as if he can just wash his hands and make all evidence of the wound disappear without a trace.]

Please, Slaine, let me help!

[terrantrash]

_{[He really doesn't want to let her and it's evident, but what else can he do? She's stubborn and denying her won't change anything. He'll just...have to suck it up.]}

...Okay.

[cutefaced]

[So yeah, Yona is basically the worst.

Buuut she doesn't seem to realize it as she reaches for the hem of his shirt. The injury is positioned just high enough that they can't roll up his sleeve to take care of it, but just low enough that they can't just tug on the collar; he's going to have to lose the shirt entirely.]

...we'll need to start with this.

[sakabroto]

[Knowing this dog, she'd swallow Ryuji's socks just because they belonged to Ryuji whether it were possible or not. He's been pretty good about keeping his doors closed since Shinji brought Manju home. He got a warning about dogs peeing on beds and that was the end of that.

But today, he thought he'd be safe. What folly.

BUT ALSO, HARU??]

They aren't that small...

[He frowns, trying to hide his embarrassment about anything of his being called "small." But Haru is right, so he clears his throat and starts moving toward Manju, hands out.]

Manju, gimme those back. They ain't even washed yet.

[frombetrayal]

[There is no safety with a new puppy. Constant Vigilance™.

With Ryuji approaching Manju head-on, Haru shuffles to the side and begins a slow approach herself. Perhaps they can flank her... the problem with this is there's only two of them, and even if they back her up against one wall, she'd still have one escape route.

Well, hopefully she won't realize that. The puppy's tail is wagging as she looks up at them, apparently viewing this as some kind of game.]

Come on, Manju, we'll get you another toy to play with...!

[The dog tilts her head to one side as if considering that.

And then it darts forward to run directly between Ryuji's legs. Nope! Smelly socks and a beanie are her toy of choice, it seems.]

haru/three

[flugels]

[ there's a carriage available at all stops towards olympia, but lancelot decides to walk the most of it. back home, and especially in the kingdom of feendrache, he had the benefit of understanding every square metre of the land. just when he thought he'd found purpose again, he's thrown to this unfamiliar world.

at least lancelot is optimistic. it's hard not to be when he at least has friends among him. right now, his friends aren't with him because - well, this a journey he feels he should take for himself. at the very least, because he had a whole month of slumber, resulting his waking in wyver instead of olympia.

as he leaves the south outpost, leading north toward olympia, he hears a young lady's voice call from behind him. he glances it back, wondering if he's the person she's calling out to. he points to himself. ]

Ah? I'm sorry, were you calling for me?

[frombetrayal]

[At first, Haru thinks perhaps she didn't call loudly enough - but then he looks back, and she smiles when he does.]

Ah, yes!

[Better hustle along, then...! She'll pick up the pace so that she can catch up with him. It wouldn't do to keep him waiting after she's already called out to stop him once.]

You're headed back to Olympia, aren't you?

[flugels]

[ as she approaches, he'll close step forward to close some distance between them - saves her a bit of hustling. closer now, she is much smaller than he expected, figuring she's probably on the younger side. ]

I am, miss. It'll be my first time traveling in this land... and you?

[frombetrayal]

I made the trek from Olympia to Wyver with the others earlier in the month, but this is my first time going it alone.

[Sort of, anyway. She's wandered alone in Olympia and Wyver, but never on the road between them. It's a little different, without the crowds of Olympians and refugees alike around them.]

But I thought perhaps there might be safety in numbers. That is, if you wouldn't mind a traveling companion?

[flugels]

Alone...?

[ there's obvious concern in his tone. no doubt this young miss has special abilities of her own, much like the captain and many other warriors he'd met in the captain's company, but he can't help but feel a sense of renewed purpose as she makes it known of her intentions.

the girl hardly needs to ask for him to offer protection, but her openness to comradeship makes it much easier. it prompts him to huff a sigh of relief, a smile on his lips. ]

I wouldn't mind at all! You seem... young. We have just met, but it would ease my mind, and I'm sure your friends as well, that someone remain at your side. My name is Lancelot. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

[frombetrayal]

[She's not... that young.

Okay, so she's seventeen (until SOME point between now and December 21st, please give me an actual date instead of a zodiac sign, P5), which is pretty young comparatively. She knows that, which is why she doesn't get offended at his concern... although she is certainly capable of looking out for herself, if push comes to shove.]

My name is Haru Okumura. It's a pleasure to meet you. [Whew! That was easy. At least he's not the grumpy type.] ...traveling is a bit more fun when you have someone with you, so I'm grateful to you for this.

[And her friends are probably glad that she's not off on her own, yeah.]

[flugels]

[ he still has a decade on her, even though no one would ever guess by his own youthful appearance. ]

Miss Okumura, then. [ he glances at the road ahead of them. the aforementioned carriage has already left the premises, chugging slowly toward the plains. his smile turns into a laidback grin as he looks back at her. ] It is more fun with company. My friend and I would used to have picnics when we go on an adventure.

[ he gestures toward the back over his shoulder. ]

True to tradition, I've brought sandwiches. He tends to eat a lot, so I impulsively made more than necessary. Perhaps you'd be interested in sharing?

[frombetrayal]

That sounds lovely...

[The picnics, she means. The adventures, too - having been on adventures of sorts with her own friends, she knows there's no better way to form a bond with someone.]

Ah - really? [Haru chuckles, then gestures at the pack slung over her own shoulder.] I made food, myself... rice balls, since they're easy to eat on the go. I wouldn't mind sharing your food so long as you wouldn't mind trying some of mine.

[A fair trade, and all.]

I'm shrieking

[razzledazzles]

[It was one thing to risk someone like a roommate entering, but if Jae-Ha had ever thought Yona would be coming over, he would have insisted on locking every door and window. The minute he catches sight of her red hair, his heart dips into his stomach and his face goes an uncharacteristic shade of red.]

Y-y-yona dear?! [WHY... WHY NOW... His legs curl tight around Mephisto in reaction, not wanting to kick him away and expose himself any further.]

[terrantrash]

<sub>[She's not the worst but there's nothing ideal about this situation.

Her fingers find the hem of his shirt and despite every ounce of him wanting her not to he lets her help peel it off his body, wincing as the fabric is peeled away from the already clotting wound. His eyes are anywhere but on her, torso exposed for inspection. It's evident there are scars, littered all over his front and back, some more faded than others. This is exactly what he didn't want her to see.]</sub>

[cutefaced]

[UUUUUUUUUH.

Yona has no words. None. She does manage to make a small, strained squeaking noise, her gaze trailing over the scene in front of her, but then her cheeks flame about as red as her hair and she buries her face in her hands.]

I-I can see you're busy! I'm not looking!

...

I'll go now!

[EASIER SAID THAN DONE, THOUGH. She's too shocked to move.]

[cutefaced]

[No, she's the worst.

Because she doesn't pick up on the fact that he didn't want her to see his scars. She sets the shirt aside carefully and turns her attention back to him, back to the wound on his shoulder -

But the scarring on his torso all but sits up and demands her attention. She sucks in a breath, and before she can stop herself, one hand comes up so that she can brush her fingertips gently against a scar on his chest.]

...Slaine.

[She looks almost like she might cry again.]

[terrantrash]

<sub>[He feels embarrassed, for a number of reasons, but the main one is that he knows she's feeling sorry for him right now. Alarm is evident on her face (or what he can see of it, from the way he's angled his gaze) and it cuts into him far worse than the throwing knife had. The hand to his chest has him flinching, but he allows her to touch him.

He feels...defeated. Ugly. This is the past he wants to so badly leave behind.]</sub>

They're old. They don't hurt so...you don't have to worry about them.

[cutefaced]

[The scars are old, but... Slaine isn't.

He's her age. Whoever did this to him hurt him when he was even younger than he is now. The look in Yona's eyes changes, slightly - she's still horrified at what he's experienced, but... there's a quiet fury in her expression now.

If she ever gets her hands on the people who did this, she...

No. No, that's not what's important here.

She doesn't think before she acts - she wraps her arms around him to pull him close, though she does avoid touching his current wound. Wouldn't want to make it worse.]

I will never, [her voice is a whisper] ever let anyone hurt you. Never again.

[Not whoever did this to him in the past, if they wake up. Not Hak. Not herself.]

...I promise.

[terrantrash]

<sub>[What is it they say, it's the thought that counts, right?

Realistically, he knows she can't protect him. That's not how life works. Besides, he doesn't deserve protection from someone like her, especially when there's the potential risk of her getting hurt because of him.

But, he appreciates the feel of her arms around him and the comfort it brings. Unfortunately he's in no position to return it, but hopefully she won't hold it against him.]</sub>

[meinwaifu]

[And Mephisto, suddenly finding himself pulled closer as Jae-ha pulls him back between his legs... starts to laugh. How can he not!? He's making some effort to keep quiet, not sure whether he's been seen or not--]

[Actually, on that note, maybe he should be grabbing a blanket, cover themselves up... or at least himself. Still laughing, help, it's too funny....!!]

[cutefaced]

[The only thing she's holding against him is, uh, herself.

He doesn't respond, but he doesn't pull away either. Still, she has to - after a few more moments, she loosens her hold on him and takes the washcloth so that she can wet it to start to clean out his wound.]

...if we're careful with this one, it shouldn't scar. It will be like it never happened.

[terrantrash]

_{[He stays still as he watches her wet a washcloth, in a bid to wipe away the blood that's stained his shoulder and clean out the wound. His own hand, bloody, has fallen to his side.]}

If it does, it isn't an issue.

_{[What's one more?]}

[cutefaced]

[She shakes her head at that. It is an issue, Slaine.]

I don't want this to be the kind of mark I leave on you.

[She didn't really mean that as suggestively as it sounds. In fact, she's not even really aware of how bad it sounds at all.]